The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-21
INTERESTING DISCUSSION IN THE SENATE.
The Bill to Submit the Question of
License to the People OF Abbeville
and GreenyiIIe will Become Law.


and GreenviIle will Become Law.
The bill to provide for the submission
to the qualified electors of Abbeville,
Granville and Oconee Counties Of the
question of "license" or mo license" in
the incorporated cities, towns and villages
in said Counties at special elections, and
which came up as all unfavorable com
mittoe report, brought Oh small sized
fight OH prohibition, and found divided
Senate on the general merits OF the ques-
tions connected with the bill.
The prohibitionists scored the first
point, and had the unfavorable report
rejected by vote of 16 to 9.
Senator Biemann then moved to strike
out "Oconee," and succeeding in his
motion was correspondingly happy.
Senator Izlar offered an amendment
providing that the question of license or
no license should not be submitted to the
voters of Greenville County under the
terms of the Act, unless majority of the
real estate owners Of the city of Green
Vile first pettioned for. such election.
Senator Austin moved to table the
amendment. This motion prevailed by a
vote of 16 to 8.
Senator Smith moved to reconsider the
vote striking out "Oconee' from the bill,
and on this called the yeas and nays.
This motion disturbed the equanimity
of the Senator from Oconee, and renewed
his anxiety concerning the bill but its
opponents under the skillful leadership OF
Senator Smythe closed ranks and fought
it out to the bitter end. SenatorSmythe
at once moved to table the matter to re-
consider.
On this there was tie vote, and the
toI ho IN
the table was lost.
Senator Smythe said that he. trusted
that the Senate would not restore Oconee
to the bill. Out of courtesy to tho Sena-
tors from Greenville and Abbeville, who
wanted this bill for their County, the
Senate was willing to pass the bill so far
as it related only to those two Counties.
He thought that the Senator from Oconee
was as much entitled to the courtesy of
the Senate rs the others were, and as he
was against the bill applying to his Coun-
ty, he ought to be sustained.
Senator Field said that it was well
known that the people of Oconec wanted
this question submitted to them.
Senator Biemann said that the people
of Oconee were by no means unanimous
on the subject. y very large number of
them were opposed to any further agita-
ton on the subject. 1t would only split
them all to pieces and foment discOrd.
Senator Rhame said, as the good faith
Of the friends of the bill seemed to be
imputed, he wanted to cay he had heard
of no reason why it should not pass.
Senator Howell said that he had always
voted for prohibition. He had even vot-
ed for the Anderson blue law, and he
would now vote FOR this bill as far as it
related to Greenville and Abbeville, but
he could not for Oconee, when there was
no petition or memorial for it from that
county, so far as the Senator knew, and
the Senator from Oconce was protesting
against it. ,
Senator Hemphill said that the bill had
originated for the benefit of Abbeville
County, which had asked for it. Green
Vile and Oconee had been tackled on it
(the latter county under protest.) He
could not consent to its being SO overload.
ed.
Senator Izlar said that there was no use
for the bill anyhow; the counties OF
Greenville and Oconee were already dry,
and the towns Of those counties had
rights under the local option law which
could give them all they needed. The
bill was simply an attempt OF those out.
side of the towns to dictate their internal
management
Senator Patterson said that it was but
lust that theSfacts of the case should be
presented to the Senate. Oconee County
had been fully represented before the
Judiciary Committee, and the statements
of her prominent and distinguished citi-
zens showed that this question was a
burning question. 1t decided elections,
and mems general fitness for office was
lost sight of; their sentiments for or
against prohibition made the test. For
this reason, among many others, he want
ed the bill passed and the question taken
out of politics.
Senator McSfasler said that he thought
that the local option laws now of force
were amply sufficient. There was such
thing as intemperance in temperance,
and he deprecated the constant agitation
of the subject.
Senator Smythe said that the debt Of
Walhalla had been alluded to in the
course of the debate, and it was an i'm
portant question-one that he hoped Sen
ators would consider carefully.
Senator Moody said that Marion had no
revenue from whiskey, and Marion was
prospering and her taxes decreasing.
The people of Oconee would abide the re-
suit of the election and they ought to
have the privilege they ask for.
After some further sparring between
Senators, the vote was taken on the mo-
ton to restore Oconee to the bill and it
failed by vote of IL 10 lO.
Senator Noise then moved to indefi-
nitelv postpone the whole matter, and
get i'm a shot or two at prohibition and its
failures. On motion of Senator Murray,
the motion was tabled. Senator McMas-
ter endeavored to amend by striking out
words incorporated cities in the bill, and
this also failed.
The Senate then took q recess.
The House bill providing for the
of the question Of license"
or mo license" to tho voters of -Abbc-
Vile and Grcenvillc counties came up
for it's final reading. The abolition of the
liquor license in Greenville would de-
crease the revenue of the city $4,000 a
year. The charter of the city only allow
ed tax of mills, but with no revenue
from liquor the cit could not get along
with less than II mills. In order to pro- !
vide that 10 injustice should be done to